Below are the YA books coming out this week that I am spotlighting for my “Book Watch: Releasing This Week” post.

These are books for the week of July 12th-July 18th that I have pre-ordered.

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Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris will be released in the U.S. on July 12, 2011 in hardcover and eBook formats. It is available to pre-order online in both formats at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Published by Delacorte Books for Young Readers, the print edition is 208 pages.

Bad Taste in Boys is one of the books that can be chosen for the 2011 Debut Author Challenge hosted by Kristi at TheStorySiren.com.

When I first saw this cover a few months ago I thought it was really cool and added it to my pre-orders based solely on the cover. I then heard it was a debut book from some of the blogs I stalked, so I knew I’d definitely be reading it.

I had no idea at the time this book was about zombies. I actually haven’t read too many books about zombies and I still need to finish the Carrie Ryan series. But this book sounds like a lot of fun. And as it’s just over 200 pages, it sounds like the perfect read to sneak in this week.

I think the idea behind this story – that steroids have had an odd effect on the football team, turning them into zombies – is clever and imaginative. And I really can’t wait to see if the main character and her friends and family are able to save the town from the zombie menance.

To read an excerpt from Chapter One, courtesy of Random House, CLICK HERE.

Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore will be released in the U.S. on July 12, 1011 in hardcover and eBook formats.

Published by Delacorte Books for Young Readers, the print edition is 416 pages.

I mentioned this book in my “Extras” post last month and I’m so happy it’s finally coming out. This is another book I’ve had on pre-order for a long while. I fell in love with this cover last winter and couldn’t wait for the book’s release.

I had the opportunity to meet the author at the RT convention in Los Angeles in April, so I am super excited to finally get my hands on a copy. It’s been a long wait.

I read The Splendor Falls before I started blogging and knew I absolutely loved the author’s writing style. So adding Texas Gothic to the collection was a no brainer.

Although I probably won’t be able to read it this week I can’t wait to find out if this story about the odd goings-on at the Goodnight Ranch, which include a ghost stalker and a number of bodies turning up, is just as spellbinding as the other book of the authors that I’d read.

Published by Delacorte Books for Young Readers, the print edition is 528 pages.

This sequel is long-awaited. I loved the first book, Meridian, and found the concept of Fenestras so captivating. I’ve been just dying to find out what happens next for Meridian Sozu.

I know I’ve had an ARC from a trade for awhile, but as release date was so far off I had to put off reading it and then just never got the chance. Of course, it now releases in just a day and I still haven’t had the opportunity.

But I have had this book on pre-order for my Kindle for a long time now and I’m excited to finally be getting the finished copy. I still haven’t decided whether to read the ARC or the final version, but either way I like having the option.

In this follow-up to book one, Meridian and Tens begin to search for others like her – a half-human, half-angel who helps souls transition to the hereafter. According to the description they find someone named Juliet who needs their help. There’s also a hint that just maybe their relationship is in for some trouble. I really hope it’s nothing too serious.

To read an excerpt from the prologue on the book’s website, CLICK HERE.

The third book in the series, Speed of Light, is slated for release in the fall of 2012, and the fourth book, Counting Tens, will be releasing in the spring of 2013.

Dragon’s Oath, a House of Night novella by authors P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast, will be released in the U.S. on July 12, 2011 in hardcover, audio and eBook formats.

I’ve had this on pre-order for a few months. I’m not sure how I became aware of the novella, but it was probably from discovering it on the blogs. I’ve been a long-time follower of this series, so I decided to add this novella to my collection.

Until I created this post I wasn’t even sure just how it tied in with the series. It seems that the authors have decided to create a series of novellas about some of the other characters in the books and Dragon’s Oath is about Professor Lankford from before he was a professor at the House of Night.

I’m trying this out because I have been a fan of the series and because I like Professor Lankford, but I’m not sure just how many of these I’ll be buying and reading going forward. It probably depends on the characters they choose to highlight. I have enjoyed the main series, but the past couple of books have begun to lose some of their charm for me.

But I am really looking forward to learning more about Dragon Lankford.

Sometimes It Happens by Lauren Barnholdt will be released in the U.S. on July 12, 2011 in hardcover and eBook formats. It is currently available to pre-order in both formats online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Published by Simon Pulse, a division of Simon & Schuster, the print edition is 320 pages.

I first saw this book on Simon & Schuster’s Galley Grab, but I knew that I might not get a chance to read it prior to release so I added it to my pre-orders. Though I probably would have added it regardless, as I’ve read one or two things by this author and have several of her books on my eReader just waiting to be read.

All I can say is this sounds like one contemporary young adult novel that will make me bite my nails the entire time I’m reading it. From the description, the four characters, Hannah, Ava, Sebastian and Noah, are all hiding something and whatever it is they are keeping secret from one another will all come to light at the start of their senior year in high school.

The Goodreads description is such a tease and it’s made me just really want to know who ends up with who at the end of this story.

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater, the final book in the Wolves of Mercy Falls series, will be released in the U.S. on July 12, 2011 in hardcover, eBook and audio formats. It is currently available to pre-order online in all formats at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Published by Scholastic Press, the print edition is 400 pages.

I haven’t had Forever on pre-order for too long for my Kindle as it wasn’t available in eBook format until fairly recently. But I also have two signed copies on pre-order from the independent bookstore the author partners with, one I’ve ordered specifically for a giveaway.

I have been a huge fan of this series for so long. And at the time I’m writing this post, I am just about finished reading Forever, thanks to the signed ARC that Britney from I Eat Words sent me from BEA.

I love Sam and Grace’s story. And it is definitely more the story and the writing, versus the characters, that I find enchanting about this series. Sam and Grace are two characters who have been very difficult for me to connect with, yet I so completely love their story and this series. I won’t continue to gush, as I’ve already spotlighted Forever in my Book Watch post.

In this final installment in the series the entire wolf pack is in jeopardy of being hunted to extinction. And because a part of the description on Goodreads sums it up so well, I’ve decided to use that so as not to risk accidentally revealing any spoilers, which I know I’d do if I continue to ramble.

The past, the present, and the future are about to collide in one pure moment – a moment of death or life, farewell or forever. (From Goodreads)

Maggie Stiefvater reads from Forever:

Undercurrent by Tricia Rayburn is the second book in the Siren trilogy. It will be released in the U.S. on July 12, 2011 in hardcover, eBook and audio formats.

Okay, this is another book I pre-ordered solely based on cover love. I have not yet read the first book in the series, but I have had it on my Kindle for quite some time. Definitely before I started blogging.

When they revealed the new covers for this series I was so excited and stalked the eBook release for this second book in the series even though I hadn’t even started to read book one. That’s how much cover love I had for these new covers.

I have been too afraid to read the Goodreads description in case it will spoil my read for the first book in the series, but I’ll link it HERE in case anyone might want to know what happens in this book.

I know this series is about sirens, which I haven’t read too many books about, so I am definitely excited to finally get a chance to start reading. There’s nothing like cover love and a second book to motivate me to get caught up on this trilogy.

There are a couple posts on the author’s blog with teaser excerpts. CLICK HERE to check them out.

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When I started writing up this post I thought I didn’t have too many books on order releasing this week. I had checked out HarperTeen’s “Coming Soon” site and saw nothing releasing that I had on pre-order and only remembered two of the above books.

Yeah, well apparently I have seven books on pre-order for this week. At least according to Amazon. And I won’t be surprised if I discover an eighth book downloading at Monday Midnight.

I’ve read only one of the above books that I’m buying this week, so that’s six new books for the pile. Granted, I still haven’t read the first book in the Siren series, but I plan to, when I have a spare moment…

I really want to read Wildcat Fireflies this week and Sometimes It Happens, but I’m not too hopeful. Perhaps next week.

But either way, there are some fantastic new releases this week, and I’m excited to be adding them all to my collection.

As always, I would love to hear what you’re hoping to add to your collection this week!

And if you have any great suggestions of “must read” books to buy that are releasing this week, please let me know!

Whenever I find either a legal free download, an excerpt or sneak peek of a book online, I try to link to it in a related post or include the link in my sidebar (to your right).

But once a month I’ll pop them into a post for a “one-stop shop” with a brief description. You may have previously seen some of these in my sidebar and one or two may still be lingering, well here they are once more in case you missed them. (My sidebar tends to have a LOT of info.)

We have a few peeks at upcoming releases, just released books and some of them are just items that have been offered for free for awhile but you might have missed.

And yes, I know it’s not July yet, but it’s a monthly post that I do around this time each month in anticipation.

Sirensong by Jenna Black will be released in the U.S. on July 5, 2011.

This is a fun and completely delightful series to read. Sirensong is the third book in the series and it continues Dana Hathaway’s adventures and this time she’s headed into Faerie.

The author is giving readers a look at Chapter One on her website, HERE

Even if you haven’t read the other books in the series the first chapter isn’t super spoiler-y.

Original Sin by Lisa Desrochers will be released in the U.S. on July 5, 2011.

This is the second book in the Personal Demons series. This is a book and series not to be missed. I have read both books in the series so I will give nothing away, but these books are definitely smoking hot.

Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore will be released in the U.S. on July 12, 2011.

I think this cover and the font and the title are so amazing. I love this author’s writing style and I’m dying to read this book.

The main character, Amy Goodnight, comes from a family of witches. She has to spend her summer on the Goodnight Ranch where there are apparently ghosts, a “hot neighbor cowboy” and a bunch of bodies turning up. Definitely not an idea summer vacation.

The publisher, Random House, is offering a short excerpt on their website, HERE.

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater will be released in the U.S. on July 12, 2011.

It is the third book in the Wolves of Mercy Falls series. There is just something so addictive about this series and so amazing about the author’s writing style.

For each of the past two books I was completely entranced by the writing and the story. I suspect there was magic involved.

Maggie Stiefvater reads an excerpt from Forever:

Wildcat Fireflies is the second book in the Meridian series by author Amber Kizer. It will be released in the U.S. on July 12, 2011.

It’s been awhile but the sequel is finally coming out! I loved the idea of beings called Fenestras and I was completely hooked when I first read the book. Then I found out it would be ages before the sequel. I think I cried a little bit.

Wildcat Fireflies continues the story as Meridian and Tens search the country for other Fenestras. And there may be trouble in paradise for the two of them. But with less than a month until release the wait is almost over.

Discovering this link was like a gold mine. I wish I had discovered it before I read most of the above books. But I own them all now, so I don’t need the look inside, but if you haven’t read them, be sure to check it out.

The Dark Days of the Supernatural and HarperTeen are offering chapter excerpts for their seven books, HERE.

Summer’s Crossing by Julie Kagawa is a free eBook novella in the Iron Fey series. It was released on June 1, 2011 in the U.S.

The Iron Fey series is absolutely charming and delightful. I cannot wait for The Iron Knight to be released and I’m so glad that the author has released another novella in the series to help bridge the gap between her next book’s release date.

I haven’t yet read it, but I believe Summer’s Crossing is told from Puck’s point of view. I did grab it before it was a freebie on Amazon, but also managed to snag the free version for my nook. I plan on reading it in the next couple of weeks as I just love the easy flow of the author’s writing.

Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn’t Have) by Sarah Mlynowski was released on June 7, 2011.

This contemporary novel by author Sarah Mlynowski sounds like it will be a really fun read. I own a copy but haven’t yet read it. I’m just hoping it’s more sweet than bittersweet. And I haven’t checked out the sneak peek, but the publisher is giving readers another long look.

The Ivy: Secrets by Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur was released on May 31, 2011.

I have been trying to find the time to read the first book in the series so I can read this one immediately afterward. The Ivy sounds like a great series to read, and if you have read the first book but not the second, this sneak peek should give you a good look at what you can expect from this book.

I have not taken a look as I don’t want to risk any spoilers for book one.

The Vampire Diaries: Stefan’s Diaries Vol. 3 – The Craving was released in the U.S. on May 3, 2011.

I love L.J. Smith’s Vampire Diaries series. I haven’t yet read Midnight, but I did buy all of the books in this off-shoot series that ties in with the television show, because I love that too. This is the third book in the Stefan’s Diaries series of books so if you haven’t had a chance to read the first one, you may want to skip the peek.

However, if you check out HarperTeen’s “browse inside” feature, they do offer a number of peeks at various different Vampire Diaries books.

A look inside of The Craving is available from the publisher, HarperCollins, HERE.

Virtue by Amanda Hocking was released on May 27, 2011 in the U.S.

I downloaded the book the moment it was released but have not had a chance to read it. This story is a young adult fairytale and it promises a battle between good and evil.

I love the author’s writing and can’t wait to read her latest book which includes goblins, demon dogs and sea dragons. Sounds pretty epic to me.

Shade is the first book in the series and the sequel, Shift, was released in May of this year. Both books are amazing, but Shade is still my favorite of the two. That ending is killer.

It is set in a world where a shift has taken place and those born after the shift have the ability to see shades. But there is an amazing love story, a bit of a love triangle, and a whole lot of heartbreak.

If you haven’t had a chance to read this series, check out the long look at the first 99 pages of Shade that Simon & Schuster is offering HERE.

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These are all great books and I hope you get a chance to read them. But it’s even nicer to get a long look inside before making the commitment. Happy reading!

FTC

All reviews on this website are unbiased and reviewers are in no way compensated for their reviews by the author, publisher, or any other agencies. While some reviews may be based on receipt of ARC copies of an authors work, a fair and impartial review is always given by the reviewer. Most of the reviews, however, are based upon books purchased after publication date.

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